Heather Knight has spoken to Sky Sports about England's ambition for the home Women's T20 World Cup that kicks off in June. The goal, she says, is to "create a real legacy for women's cricket in this country," mirroring the recent triumphs of the Lionesses in football and the Red Roses in rugby. This will be the first time England has hosted the tournament since the 2009 edition, a World Cup that England won. The women's cricket team also delivered a historic home victory in the 50‑over World Cup in 2017, a competition that Knight captained.
Now, at 35, Knight observes that the environment for women's sport has transformed dramatically since those earlier successes. The Lionesses have captured back‑to‑back European Championships in 2022 and 2025, the latter in front of a sold‑out Wembley Stadium, while the Red Roses lifted the Rugby World Cup on a packed Twickenham pitch last September. "The focus now is women's cricket at the World Cup, so it's really exciting – it's not far away and gives us a chance to do something special as a side," Knight told Sky Sports.
"I would say it's once in a career, but this will probably be my second home tournament – hopefully everything goes well – and it's just incredibly special playing at home. Friends and family can come, we know the grounds and conditions, and that home support is crucial." She recalled the 2017 final at Lord's, noting how the crowd grew throughout the tournament and how that atmosphere was "super special." Knight added that a successful campaign this summer could leave a lasting imprint on women's cricket in England.
"If we do our job right and succeed, we can leave a real legacy for the sport in this country," she said. Knight also highlighted how the success of other women's teams has begun to shift public perception. "It took a little time for those victories to translate into real change, but the landscape is very different now. In women's cricket we now have a professional domestic structure, more visibility and a clearer pathway for young players." She believes that if England performs well, the existing structures will amplify the impact.
"We've watched the Lionesses and Red Roses closely, and we want to emulate that. We hope to inspire girls to see cricket as a normal, great option for them," Knight explained. Despite a recent dip in form, the England side is eager to regain momentum on home soil.
"The mood is good. We haven't played much cricket this winter after the 50‑over World Cup, so we're itching to get back together, feel international cricket again and build toward the T20 World Cup," she said. Knight emphasized the importance of embracing the pressure of a home tournament, noting that the team will have many conversations about handling expectations and attacking the competition. The build‑up to the event is already generating excitement across the country.
With 50 days left until the tournament, Schools Cricket Day saw more than 236,000 children from over 1,350 schools pick up a bat and ball, marking the largest single‑day cricket participation event in UK history. Knight took part in a lively cricket festival at Raynes Park Sports Ground in London, joining over 200 boys and girls for drills, matches and meet‑and‑greets. The day also featured UNICEF's "Rights in Play" programme, which used cricket‑based games to teach children about their rights.
ICC chairman Jay Shah praised the initiative, saying it was "fantastic to see the excitement building across the UK ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026" and noting that expanding the tournament from ten to twelve teams demonstrates a commitment to growing the women's game globally. ECB strategic growth lead Gemma Barton echoed that sentiment, stating that events like Schools Cricket Day show how the tournament is shaping the future of cricket.
She added that every child who picks up a bat today sees how inclusive and fun the sport can be, and that the legacy will be measured by the increase in participation and the sense of belonging among new players. Financially, the ICC announced a 10 percent increase in the total prize fund for the 2026 tournament. The champions will receive $2.34 million (£1.74 million) and the runners‑up $1.17 million (£871,000), matching the previous edition. However, every participating team is now guaranteed a minimum of $247,500 (£184,245), more than double the amount promised in 2024.
While the top‑two prize money remains unchanged from the last edition, the overall pot has risen from $7.958 million in 2024 to $8.765 million in 2026, reflecting the expansion to twelve teams. Tournament director Beth Barrett‑Wild described the 2026 event as a "landmark moment" poised to become the most attended women's cricket competition ever, with record ticket demand and the largest prize pool for a global women's T20 tournament.
Prize breakdown: - Winners: $2,340,000 (£1,742,238) - Runners‑up: $1,170,000 (£871,119) - Losing semi‑finalists: $675,000 (£502,569) - Group‑match win: $31,154 (£23,196) - Guaranteed prize for each of the 12 teams: $247,500 (£184,275) Knight concluded that the combination of historic success, growing infrastructure, and a supportive fan base gives England a unique opportunity to cement a lasting legacy for women's cricket, inspiring the next generation of girls to pick up a bat and dream of playing on the world stage.